Container

ABSTRACT

A container for storing and transporting liquid materials has a container wall and a container opening surrounded by the container wall. A closure element that closes the container opening is provided. An intermediate lid made from plastic material is arranged between the closure element and the container wall and is removable. The intermediate lid has at least over portions thereof a convexly curved cross-section. The intermediate lid has a circumferential collar that is formed as a bead and that is placed onto a fastening projection formed on the container wall.

The invention concerns a container, especially a steel container for storing and/or transporting liquid material, the container comprising a container wall as well as a container opening that is closable by a closure element, for example, in the form of a lid.

Containers of the aforementioned kind are generally known and serve, for example, for storing liquid materials such as paint. The closure element is usually configured as a lid and can be secured by means of a clamping ring on fastening projections near the edge areas of an opening, for example, by means of clamping devices. A disadvantage in this connection is that the lid comes into contact with the liquid material, for example, during transport movements. When storing paint, for example, this causes residues of paint to adhere to the inner area of the lid; such residues are disadvantageous for subsequent use. In this case, intensive cleaning work must be performed; this is costly and time-consuming.

It is an object of the present intention to provide a container that prevents soiling of the closing element to a large extent.

For solving this object, the container of the aforementioned kind is characterized in that the container opening has correlated therewith an intermediate lid made from plastic material and to be arranged between the closure element and the container wall so as to be removable.

In this way, a container is provided in which the intermediate lid ensures that the closure element itself does not come into contact with the liquid material, for example, paint. The intermediate lid can be easily demounted and can be removed after opening the lid. Before the closure element is attached, the intermediate lid can be attached. When a different kind of material is to be transported in the container or is to be stored therein, the intermediate lid can first be exchanged for another intermediate lid without requiring special cleaning work. Subsequently, the intermediate lid is to be cleaned or is to be subjected to a recycling process.

Preferably, the intermediate lid has a circumferential collar that can be connected to a fastening projection surrounding the container opening. This can be the fastening projection onto which the closure element is to placed and fastened thereat by clamping, for example, in the way of a conventional paint container. Preferably, the collar is embodied as a ring. Overall, an effective protection against contamination is provided in this way. Also, a transport protection is provided for in-house transportation. Moreover, by means of the intermediate lid, the sealing action of the closure element can be improved because no capillaries are present. By selecting suitable plastic materials, formation of folds is not to be expected. In this connection, polypropylene plastic material is suitable. Preferably, the intermediate lid is however comprised of solvent-resistant polyolefin.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the intermediate lid can also be configured to be electrically dissipating or to be permanently antistatic, to be migratingly antistatic or to be conducting as a whole.

Important further embodiments of the invention can be taken from the further dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. The drawings show in:

FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a container;

FIG. 2 a cross-sectional illustration of an intermediate lid.

In the drawings, parts that basically act in the same way are identified with identical reference numerals. Generally, 1 identifies the container that has a container wall and an opening that is closed in the illustrated embodiment by the intermediate lid 3. This intermediate lid 3 has laterally a collar 4 that is bent to a bead shape and is to be placed onto the beaded edge of the sidewall 2. As illustrated, for example, in the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2, this can be done by intermediately positioning a sealing element 5.

Not illustrated in detail, a closure element, not illustrated in detail, can be placed onto this intermediate lid 3; for example, the closure element can also be in the shape of a lid that is secured also to the beaded edge of the container sidewall 2. This can also be realized by additional assistance of a clamping ring, not illustrated. When in use, because of the provided intermediate lid 3 the filled-in material cannot reach the closure element that is positioned above the intermediate lid 3. Contaminations on the lid can therefore not act on the material that has been filled in. The closure element is protected from the filled-in material so that, for example, in the case of filled-in paint the lid cannot be wetted with paint. The intermediate lid can be wetted but it is replaceable.

The intermediate lid 3 is comprised of a plastic material, for example, of a solvent-resistant polyolefin. It is also possible that the intermediate lid in cross-section is slightly convexly bulged. Preferably, the intermediate lid is configured to be electrically dissipating. 

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. A container for storing and transporting materials, the container comprising: a container wall and a container opening surrounded by the container wall; a closure element that closes the container opening; an intermediate lid made from plastic material, wherein the intermediate lid is arranged between the closure element and the container wall and is removable; wherein the intermediate lid has at least over portions thereof a convexly curved cross-section.
 14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate lid has a circumferential collar that is formed as a bead and that is placed onto a fastening projection formed on the container wall.
 15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the closure element is secured with interposition of the intermediate lid on the fastening projection of the container wall.
 16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate lid is clamped onto the fasting projection.
 17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the closure element and the intermediate lid are secured on the container by a clamping ring.
 18. The container according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate lid is comprised of polyolefin material.
 19. The container according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate lid is permanently antistatic.
 20. The container according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate lid is migratingly antistatic.
 21. The container according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate lid is electrically dissipating.
 22. The container according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate lid comprises dispersed carbon black particles.
 23. The container according to claim 13, wherein the closure element is a lid.
 24. The container according to claim 13, wherein the container is a steel container. 